Amongtheseheroesofthemonasticlife，thenameandgeniusofSimeonStylites^70havebeenimmortalizedbythesingularinventionofanaerialpenance。Attheageofthirteen，theyoungSyriandesertedtheprofessionofashepherd，andthrewhimselfintoanausteremonastery。Afteralongandpainfulnovitiate，inwhichSimeonwasrepeatedlysavedfrompioussuicide，heestablishedhisresidenceonamountain，aboutthirtyorfortymilestotheeastofAntioch。Withinthespaceofamandra，orcircleofstones，towhichhehadattachedhimselfbyaponderouschain，heascendedacolumn，whichwassuccessivelyraisedfromtheheightofnine，tothatofsixty，feetfromtheground。^71Inthislastandloftystation，theSyrianAnachoretresistedtheheatofthirtysummers，andthecoldofasmanywinters。Habitandexerciseinstructedhimtomaintainhisdangeroussituationwithoutfearorgiddiness，andsuccessivelytoassumethedifferentposturesofdevotion。Hesometimesprayedinanerectattitude，withhisoutstretchedarmsinthefigureofacross，buthismostfamiliarpracticewasthatofbendinghismeagreskeletonfromtheforeheadtothefeet；andacuriousspectator，afternumberingtwelvehundredandforty—fourrepetitions，atlengthdesistedfromtheendlessaccount。Theprogressofanulcerinhisthigh^72mightshorten，butitcouldnotdisturb，thiscelestiallife；andthepatientHermitexpired，withoutdescendingfromhiscolumn。Aprince，whoshouldcapriciouslyinflictsuchtortures，wouldbedeemedatyrant；butitwouldsurpassthepowerofatyranttoimposealongandmiserableexistenceonthereluctantvictimsofhiscruelty。
Thisvoluntarymartyrdommusthavegraduallydestroyedthesensibilitybothofthemindandbody；norcanitbepresumedthatthefanatics，whotormentthemselves，aresusceptibleofanylivelyaffectionfortherestofmankind。Acruel，unfeelingtemperhasdistinguiseedthemonksofeveryageandcountry:
theirsternindifference，whichisseldommollifiedbypersonalfriendship，isinflamedbyreligioushatred；andtheirmercilesszealhasstrenuouslyadministeredtheholyofficeoftheInquisition。
[Footnote70:SeeTheodoretinVit。Patrum，l。ix。p。848—
854，Antony，inVit。Patrum，l。i。p。170—177，Cosmas，inAsseman。Bibliot。Orientaltom。i。p。239—253，Evagrius，l。
i。c。13，14，andTillemont，Mem。Eccles。tom。xv。p。347—
392。]
[Footnote71:Thenarrowcircumferenceoftwocubits，orthreefeet，whichEvagriusassignsforthesummitofthecolumnisinconsistentwithreason，withfacts，andwiththerulesofarchitecture。Thepeoplewhosawitfrombelowmightbeeasilydeceived。]
[Footnote72:Imustnotconcealapieceofancientscandalconcerningtheoriginofthisulcer。IthasbeenreportedthattheDevil，assuminganangelicform，invitedhimtoascend，likeElijah，intoafierychariot。Thesainttoohastilyraisedhisfoot，andSatanseizedthemomentofinflictingthischastisementonhisvanity。]
Themonasticsaints，whoexciteonlythecontemptandpityofaphilosopher，wererespected，andalmostadored，bytheprinceandpeople。SuccessivecrowdsofpilgrimsfromGaulandIndiasalutedthedivinepillarofSimeon:thetribesofSaracensdisputedinarmsthehonorofhisbenediction；thequeensofArabiaandPersiagratefullyconfessedhissupernaturalvirtue；
andtheangelicHermitwasconsultedbytheyoungerTheodosius，inthemostimportantconcernsofthechurchandstate。HisremainsweretransportedfromthemountainofTelenissa，byasolemnprocessionofthepatriarch，themaster—generaloftheEast，sixbishops，twenty—onecountsortribunes，andsixthousandsoldiers；andAntiochreveredhisbones，ashergloriousornamentandimpregnabledefence。ThefameoftheapostlesandmartyrswasgraduallyeclipsedbytheserecentandpopularAnachorets；theChristianworldfellprostratebeforetheirshrines；andthemiraclesascribedtotheirrelicsexceeded，atleastinnumberandduration，thespiritualexploitsoftheirlives。Butthegoldenlegendoftheirlives^73wasembellishedbytheartfulcredulityoftheirinterestedbrethren；andabelievingagewaseasilypersuaded，thattheslightestcapriceofanEgyptianoraSyrianmonkhadbeensufficienttointerrupttheeternallawsoftheuniverse。ThefavoritesofHeavenwereaccustomedtocureinveteratediseaseswithatouch，aword，oradistantmessage；andtoexpelthemostobstinatedemonsfromthesoulsorbodieswhichtheypossessed。Theyfamiliarlyaccosted，orimperiouslycommanded，thelionsandserpentsofthedesert；
infusedvegetationintoasaplesstrunk；suspendedirononthesurfaceofthewater；passedtheNileonthebackofacrocodile，andrefreshedthemselvesinafieryfurnace。Theseextravaganttales，whichdisplaythefictionwithoutthegenius，ofpoetry，haveseriouslyaffectedthereason，thefaith，andthemorals，oftheChristians。Theircredulitydebasedandvitiatedthefacultiesofthemind:theycorruptedtheevidenceofhistory；
andsuperstitiongraduallyextinguishedthehostilelightofphilosophyandscience。Everymodeofreligiousworshipwhichhadbeenpractisedbythesaints，everymysteriousdoctrinewhichtheybelieved，wasfortifiedbythesanctionofdivinerevelation，andallthemanlyvirtueswereoppressedbytheservileandpusillanimousreignofthemonks。IfitbepossibletomeasuretheintervalbetweenthephilosophicwritingsofCiceroandthesacredlegendofTheodoret，betweenthecharacterofCatoandthatofSimeon，wemayappreciatethememorablerevolutionwhichwasaccomplishedintheRomanempirewithinaperiodoffivehundredyears。
[Footnote73:IknownothowtoselectorspecifythemiraclescontainedintheVitaePatrumofRosweyde，asthenumberverymuchexceedsthethousandpagesofthatvoluminouswork。AnelegantspecimenmaybefoundinthedialoguesofSulpiciusSeverus，andhisLifeofSt。Martin。HereveresthemonksofEgypt；yetheinsultsthemwiththeremark，thattheyneverraisedthedead；whereasthebishopofTourshadrestoredthreedeadmentolife。]
II。TheprogressofChristianityhasbeenmarkedbytwogloriousanddecisivevictories:overthelearnedandluxuriouscitizensoftheRomanempire；andoverthewarlikeBarbariansofScythiaandGermany，whosubvertedtheempire，andembracedthereligion，oftheRomans。TheGothsweretheforemostofthesesavageproselytes；andthenationwasindebtedforitsconversiontoacountryman，or，atleast，toasubject，worthytoberankedamongtheinventorsofusefularts，whohavedeservedtheremembranceandgratitudeofposterity。AgreatnumberofRomanprovincialshadbeenledawayintocaptivitybytheGothicbands，whoravagedAsiainthetimeofGallienus；andofthesecaptives，manywereChristians，andseveralbelongedtotheecclesiasticalorder。Thoseinvoluntarymissionaries，dispersedasslavesinthevillagesofDacia，successivelylaboredforthesalvationoftheirmasters。Theseedswhichtheyplanted，oftheevangelicdoctrine，weregraduallypropagated；andbeforetheendofacentury，thepiousworkwasachievedbythelaborsofUlphilas，whoseancestorshadbeentransportedbeyondtheDanubefromasmalltownofCappadocia。
Ulphilas，thebishopandapostleoftheGoths，^74acquiredtheirloveandreverencebyhisblamelesslifeandindefatigablezeal；andtheyreceived，withimplicitconfidence，thedoctrinesoftruthandvirtuewhichhepreachedandpractised。HeexecutedthearduoustaskoftranslatingtheScripturesintotheirnativetongue，adialectoftheGermanorTeutoniclanguage；butheprudentlysuppressedthefourbooksofKings，astheymighttendtoirritatethefierceandsanguinaryspiritoftheBarbarians。
Therude，imperfectidiomofsoldiersandshepherds，soillqualifiedtocommunicateanyspiritualideas，wasimprovedandmodulatedbyhisgenius:andUlphilas，beforehecouldframehisversion，wasobligedtocomposeanewalphabetoftwenty—fourletters；fourofwhichheinvented，toexpressthepeculiarsoundsthatwereunknowntotheGreekandLatinpronunciation。
^75ButtheprosperousstateoftheGothicchurchwassoonafflictedbywarandintestinediscord，andthechieftainsweredividedbyreligionaswellasbyinterest。Fritigern，thefriendoftheRomans，becametheproselyteofUlphilas；whilethehaughtysoulofAthanaricdisdainedtheyokeoftheempireandofthegospelThefaithofthenewconvertswastriedbythepersecutionwhichheexcited。Awagon，bearingalofttheshapelessimageofThor，perhaps，orofWoden，wasconductedinsolemnprocessionthroughthestreetsofthecamp；andtherebels，whorefusedtoworshipthegodoftheirfathers，wereimmediatelyburnt，withtheirtentsandfamilies。ThecharacterofUlphilasrecommendedhimtotheesteemoftheEasterncourt，wherehetwiceappearedastheministerofpeace；hepleadedthecauseofthedistressedGoths，whoimploredtheprotectionofValens；andthenameofMoseswasappliedtothisspiritualguide，whoconductedhispeoplethroughthedeepwatersoftheDanubetotheLandofPromise。^76Thedevoutshepherds，whowereattachedtohisperson，andtractabletohisvoice，acquiescedintheirsettlement，atthefootoftheMaesianmountains，inacountryofwoodlandsandpastures，whichsupportedtheirflocksandherds，andenabledthemtopurchasethecornandwineofthemoreplentifulprovinces。TheseharmlessBarbariansmultipliedinobscurepeaceandtheprofessionofChristianity。^77
[Footnote74:OnthesubjectofUlphilas，andtheconversionoftheGoths，seeSozomen，l。vi。c。37。Socrates，l。iv。c。33。
Theodoret，l。iv。c。37。Philostorg。l。ii。c。5。TheheresyofPhilostorgiusappearstohavegivenhimsuperiormeansofinformation。]
[Footnote*:ThisistheMoeso—GothicalphabetofwhichmanyofthelettersareevidentlyformedfromtheGreekandRoman。M。
St。Martin，howevercontends，thatitisimpossiblebutthatsomewrittenalphabetmusthavebeenknownlongbeforeamongtheGoths。Hesupposesthattheirformerletterswerethoseinscribedontherunes，which，beinginseparablyconnectedwiththeoldidolatroussuperstitions，wereproscribedbytheChristianmissionaries。Everywheretherunes，socommonamongalltheGermantribes，disappearafterthepropagationofChristianity。S。Martiniv。p。97，98。—M。]
[Footnote75:AmutilatedcopyofthefourGospels，intheGothicversion，waspublishedA。D。1665，andisesteemedthemostancientmonumentoftheTeutoniclanguage，thoughWetsteinattempts，bysomefrivolousconjectures，todepriveUlphilasofthehonorofthework。TwoofthefouradditionallettersexpresstheW，andourownTh。SeeSimon，Hist。CritiqueduNouveauTestament，tomii。p。219—223。Mill。Prolegomp。151，edit。Kuster。Wetstein，Prolegom。tom。i。p。114。
Note:TheCodexArgenteus，foundinthesixteenthcenturyatWenden，nearCologne，andnowpreservedatUpsal，containsalmosttheentirefourGospels。ThebesteditionisthatofJ。Christ。
Zahn，Weissenfels，1805。In1762KnetteldiscoveredandpublishedfromaPalimpsestMS。fourchaptersoftheEpistletotheRomans:theywerereprintedatUpsal，1763。M。Maihassincethattimediscoveredfurtherfragments，andotherremainsofMoeso—Gothicliterature，fromaPalimpsestatMilan。SeeUlphilaepartiuminediaruminAmbrosianisPalimpsestisabAng。
MaiorepertarumspecimenMilan。Ito。1819。—M。]
[Footnote76:PhilostorgiuserroneouslyplacesthispassageunderthereignofConstantine；butIammuchinclinedtobelievethatitprecededthegreatemigration。]
[Footnote77:WeareobligedtoJornandesdeReb。Get。c。51，p。
688forashortandlivelypictureoftheselesserGoths。Gothiminores，populusimmensus，cumsuoPontificeipsoqueprimateWulfila。Thelastwords，iftheyarenotmeretautology，implysometemporaljurisdiction。]
Theirfiercerbrethren，theformidableVisigoths，universallyadoptedthereligionoftheRomans，withwhomtheymaintainedaperpetualintercourse，ofwar，offriendship，orofconquest。IntheirlongandvictoriousmarchfromtheDanubetotheAtlanticOcean，theyconvertedtheirallies；theyeducatedtherisinggeneration；andthedevotionwhichreignedinthecampofAlaric，orthecourtofThoulouse，mightedifyordisgracethepalacesofRomeandConstantinople。^78Duringthesameperiod，ChristianitywasembracedbyalmostalltheBarbarians，whoestablishedtheirkingdomsontheruinsoftheWesternempire；
theBurgundiansinGaul，theSueviinSpain，theVandalsinAfrica，theOstrogothsinPannonia，andthevariousbandsofmercenaries，thatraisedOdoacertothethroneofItaly。TheFranksandtheSaxonsstillperseveredintheerrorsofPaganism；
buttheFranksobtainedthemonarchyofGaulbytheirsubmissiontotheexampleofClovis；andtheSaxonconquerorsofBritainwerereclaimedfromtheirsavagesuperstitionbythemissionariesofRome。TheseBarbarianproselytesdisplayedanardentandsuccessfulzealinthepropagationofthefaith。TheMerovingiankings，andtheirsuccessors，CharlemagneandtheOthos，extended，bytheirlawsandvictories，thedominionofthecross。EnglandproducedtheapostleofGermany；andtheevangeliclightwasgraduallydiffusedfromtheneighborhoodoftheRhine，tothenationsoftheElbe，theVistula，andtheBaltic。^79
[Footnote78:AtnonitaGothinonitaVandali；malislicetdoctoribusinstitutimeliorestamenetiaminhacpartequamnostri。Salvian，deGubern，Dei，l。vii。p。243。]
[Footnote79:MosheimhasslightlysketchedtheprogressofChristianityintheNorth，fromthefourthtothefourteenthcentury。Thesubjectwouldaffordmaterialsforanecclesiasticalandevenphilosophical，history]
ChapterXXXVII:ConversionOfTheBarbariansToChristianity。
PartIII。
Thedifferentmotiveswhichinfluencedthereason，orthepassions，oftheBarbarianconverts，cannoteasilybeascertained。Theywereoftencapriciousandaccidental；adream，anomen，thereportofamiracle，theexampleofsomepriest，orhero，thecharmsofabelievingwife，and，aboveall，thefortunateeventofaprayer，orvow，which，inamomentofdanger，theyhadaddressedtotheGodoftheChristians。^80Theearlyprejudicesofeducationwereinsensiblyerasedbythehabitsoffrequentandfamiliarsociety，themoralpreceptsofthegospelwereprotectedbytheextravagantvirtuesofthemonks；andaspiritualtheologywassupportedbythevisiblepowerofrelics，andthepompofreligiousworship。Buttherationalandingeniousmodeofpersuasion，whichaSaxonbishop^81suggestedtoapopularsaint，mightsometimesbeemployedbythemissionaries，wholaboredfortheconversionofinfidels。
"Admit，"saysthesagaciousdisputant，"whatevertheyarepleasedtoassertofthefabulous，andcarnal，genealogyoftheirgodsandgoddesses，whoarepropagatedfromeachother。Fromthisprinciplededucetheirimperfectnature，andhumaninfirmities，theassurancetheywereborn，andtheprobabilitythattheywilldie。Atwhattime，bywhatmeans，fromwhatcause，weretheeldestofthegodsorgoddessesproduced?Dotheystillcontinue，orhavetheyceased，topropagate?Iftheyhaveceased，summonyourantagoniststodeclarethereasonofthisstrangealteration。Iftheystillcontinue，thenumberofthegodsmustbecomeinfinite；andshallwenotrisk，bytheindiscreetworshipofsomeimpotentdeity，toexcitetheresentmentofhisjealoussuperior?Thevisibleheavensandearth，thewholesystemoftheuniverse，whichmaybeconceivedbythemind，isitcreatedoreternal?Ifcreated，how，orwhere，couldthegodsthemselvesexistbeforecreation?Ifeternal，howcouldtheyassumetheempireofanindependentandpreexistingworld?Urgetheseargumentswithtemperandmoderation；insinuate，atseasonableintervals，thetruthandbeautyoftheChristianrevelation；andendeavortomaketheunbelieversashamed，withoutmakingthemangry。"Thismetaphysicalreasoning，toorefined，perhaps，fortheBarbariansofGermany，wasfortifiedbythegrosserweightofauthorityandpopularconsent。TheadvantageoftemporalprosperityhaddesertedthePagancause，andpassedovertotheserviceofChristianity。TheRomansthemselves，themostpowerfulandenlightenednationoftheglobe，hadrenouncedtheirancientsuperstition；and，iftheruinoftheirempireseemedtoaccusetheefficacyofthenewfaith，thedisgracewasalreadyretrievedbytheconversionofthevictoriousGoths。ThevaliantandfortunateBarbarians，whosubduedtheprovincesoftheWest，successivelyreceived，andreflected，thesameedifyingexample。
BeforetheageofCharlemagne，theChristiannationsofEuropemightexultintheexclusivepossessionofthetemperateclimates，ofthefertilelands，whichproducedcorn，wine，andoil；whilethesavageidolaters，andtheirhelplessidols，wereconfinedtotheextremitiesoftheearth，thedarkandfrozenregionsoftheNorth。^82
[Footnote80:TosuchacausehasSocratesl。vii。c。30
ascribedtheconversionoftheBurgundians，whoseChristianpietyiscelebratedbyOrosius，l。vii。c。19。]
[Footnote81:SeeanoriginalandcuriousepistlefromDaniel，thefirstbishopofWinchester，Beda，Hist。Eccles。Anglorum，l。
v。c。18，p。203，editSmith，toSt。Boniface，whopreachedthegospelamongthesavagesofHesseandThuringia。Epistol。
Bonifacii，lxvii。，intheMaximaBibliothecaPatrum，tom。xiii。
p。93]
[Footnote82:TheswordofCharlemagneaddedweighttotheargument；butwhenDanielwrotethisepistle，A。D。723，theMahometans，whoreignedfromIndiatoSpain，mighthaveretorteditagainsttheChristians。]
Christianity，whichopenedthegatesofHeaventotheBarbarians，introducedanimportantchangeintheirmoralandpoliticalcondition。Theyreceived，atthesametime，theuseofletters，soessentialtoareligionwhosedoctrinesarecontainedinasacredbook；andwhiletheystudiedthedivinetruth，theirmindswereinsensiblyenlargedbythedistantviewofhistory，ofnature，ofthearts，andofsociety。TheversionoftheScripturesintotheirnativetongue，whichhadfacilitatedtheirconversion，mustexciteamongtheirclergysomecuriositytoreadtheoriginaltext，tounderstandthesacredliturgyofthechurch，andtoexamine，inthewritingsofthefathers，thechainofecclesiasticaltradition。ThesespiritualgiftswerepreservedintheGreekandLatinlanguages，whichconcealedtheinestimablemonumentsofancientlearning。TheimmortalproductionsofVirgil，Cicero，andLivy，whichwereaccessibletotheChristianBarbarians，maintainedasilentintercoursebetweenthereignofAugustusandthetimesofClovisandCharlemagne。
Theemulationofmankindwasencouragedbytheremembranceofamoreperfectstate；andtheflameofsciencewassecretlykeptalive，towarmandenlightenthematureageoftheWesternworld。